Need help for debate on capitalism.

[Nusocialist]

On debatepolitics.com I agreed to a debate on whether capitalism is good or evil(I didn't choose the exact question.) so I'd thought I'd ask for pointers here.
The format of the debate is an opening statement,five body posts and one closing arguments,so I thought I use five main arguments.
These being most likely:

1. Primitive accumulation.

2.The ongoing and massive state intervention required to keep capitalism going.

3.The idea that production is a social process,and that labour is the only productive human behaviour and that therefore earnings from property are unearned.

4.The Alienation and emotional,psychological,social and other damage that capitalism does,linking in the general anarchist arguments against all hierarchy and authority.

5. And lastly how libertarian socialism could improve on capitalism and just what it overs.

So I'm looking for any help anyone can give on these,particularly the last three.Thanks in advance.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Nusocialist, if you make it clearer what you want, I think more comrades will reply.

I have read your post several times, and the things I can assist you on -- items 1-3 --, I am not sure what you want.

And if I am not, I am sure others aren't either.

That probably explains why no one has responded, when, as you can see, there are any number of comrades here who want to help new socialists like you.

[BobKKKindle$]

4.The Alienation and emotional,psychological,social and other damage that capitalism does,linking in the general anarchist arguments against all hierarchy and authority.

I agree with what Rosa said - but I can say a little about the nature of labour under Capitalism.

Alienation is essentially a state of seperation or absence of control over an object or entity. Under Capitalism, if one does not have ownership of the means of production, the only way in which one can survive is through selling one's labour power, as a commodity, to a capitalist. It is from this basic situation that the alienation of labour originates. The nature of private property is such that Workers do not have ownership over the commodities that they produce. The commodities are under the ownership and control of the Capitalists, who sell these commodities in order to make a profit. As such, labour itself comes merely to function as a commodity and a component in the reproduction of Capital - labour is simply a means to live for the worker due to his alienation for the products of his labour. Marx believed that labour should be an end unto itself - something we do freely, consciously, and as an expression of our creative capacities. The alienated nature of labour is the reason why our work is often an unfulfilling experience. This is intensified by the fact that workplaces are organised in a hierarchical manner where workers are forced to subject themselves to the authority of the bosses and are not able to engage in the running and organisation of their workplaces.

In addition, the structure of Capitalist workplaces is such that we are alienated from those around us - the need to sell our labour power pushes us into competition with our fellow workers which is in opposition to the fundamentally social and cooperative nature of labour.

The importance of labour as a commodity over its role as an end unto itself means that we come to value our relations with others merely in terms of commodities; and we come to invest great spiritual meaning in ordinary objects - this is known as commodity fetishism and explains the quasi-theist adoration for superfluous commodities so common in our society.

[Nusocialist]

Originally posted by Rosa [email protected] 30, 2007 11:23 am
Nusocialist, if you make it clearer what you want, I think more comrades will reply.

I have read your post several times, and the things I can assist you on -- items 1-3 --, I am not sure what you want.

And if I am not, I am sure others aren't either.

That probably explains why no one has responded, when, as you can see, there are any number of comrades here who want to help new socialists like you.
Well I was preferably looking for links and just as much information on these subjects as possible.